What I’ve Learned from DH’s Regiment

When he was 17 and in high school, DH started his enlistment for the Canadian Forces.  He and I started dating right around that same time.

Though his top choice on his papers was Engineer, he didn’t think twice about taking his 2nd choice when they called on his 18th birthday at 9 a.m. and offered him a job in the Armoured Corps.

6 months later after all his training was complete, he found himself a part of the unti he has served with the past 12 years..

I can’t say either of us give much thought to the decisions he made and the decisions made for him that brought him to this unit.  It’s just always been how it ended up.  He’s always been proud to be a Strathcona.

And if you don’t mind me putting on my lame rah-rah wife thing for a moment, I’m going to go ahead and let you know – every one of them has every reason to be proud.  The past 10 years has seen this unit in Afghanistan over and over again.  The first Canadian boots on the ground in Kandahar included theirs.  Since then they have served in Kandahar and Kabul, with Reconnaissance Squadrons and with Tank squadrons, consistently and frequently and with honour.

In fact, since the war began you would be hard-pressed to find a month when there was not at least one LdSH(RC) squadron in Afghanistan.  Even now that Canada has left the combat role, Strathconas still serve as mentors and liaisons and instructors to the Afghan army.  The Strathconas have been one of the most deployed Regiment in the war.

A few months after DH finished basic and trade training, I attended my first All Ranks Regimental dinner dance with him.  It’s been just over 12 years since then.  I admit I’m sure not the 18 year old I was that first year.  This past week, I attended what will be my last for a few years.

I’ve learned a few things…

– At 31 years old, one should not be so judgemental of the scantily covering outfits worn by girlfriends at events unless she would like a firm reminder of what she barely wore to her first event when she was 18 years old.  *cough*. I am so very grateful there was no facebook and no proof.

– Possibly the saddest job ever – a civilian working ‘security’ at a function entirely made up of combat soldiers and their spouses. 

– “Club Casual” is the same as saying “wear whatever the hell you want”.  Ball gown?  Sure!  Ripped jeans?  Bring it.

– On the concert floor I almost fell more than a few times.  Not from people pushing but from DH shoving me out of the way of the crowd surfers, scared one might fall on me.  Um… I’ve been in a few mosh pits in my life, babe.  He’s so adorable when he’s over protective.  

– Just because I’m loud and talk to much and laugh a lot does not mean I’m not stomach turningly nervous.  I suck at parties.

– Guys who crew armoured vehicles for a living cannot park their own cars.  Seriously.  Check out their parking lot one day.
 
– It cannot be taken for granted to look accross a dance floor of hundreds of heros and their families and know that you have been a tiny part of that.  It’s so very humbling.

– We may be moving, but friendship is different with this crowd.  It doesn’t matter where you’ve been posted or how long you’ve been gone, a friend is a friend.  It means when we were on the other side of the country we could still have meals with families who were posted out 4, 5, 6 years ago.  It means when you come back in  several years you can come to these parties like you never left.
It took me meeting the fiance of one of the soldiers DH went on tour with, one who was posted away 3 years ago and we haven’t seen since, knowing me by name when I met her for the first time to realize it:  These guys have bonded in a way no one else could and they don’t forget each other.  I may have had a few moments of sadness when I realized this was out last party for a few years, but a few years isn’t going to change too much of what matters.

–  105mm casings make decent floor vases.  And, apparently, beer kegs.

– I have been more involved than a wife ever probably should be.  I’m sure there’s been days that DH wished I would just shut up and blend in, though he’s never once complained.  And I can bet that when their Commanding Officer gets to his new position this year he’ll be breathing a sigh of relief to not have to put up with me anymore.
But there’s no other unit that would would work half as hard not just for it’s soldiers but for it’s families.  There are certainly very few that would have let one loudmouth wife have a say.
I have appreciated every opportunity I have had to speak up and know someone might be listening.

– What I still haven’t learned?  When everyone else at a meeting is wearing the same uniform, what are you supposed to wear?  Sigh….

– We’ve seen ups and downs in the past 12 years.  That kind of work tempo means it’s been hard to avoid tired soldiers and burned out families.  But last night, all those Strathcona’s cheered louder for their leadership than they did for the band that had been flown in to play for them. 
And that says all you ever need to know about the Regiment.

I believe the quote from the party was that these soldiers are ‘the best damn warriors in the Canadian Forces’. 

We’re gonna miss them these next few years.

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